Housing First Model
What is Housing First?
MHAOK’s programs center on the belief that individuals experiencing homelessness, mental illness, or substance use disorder, can best achieve healing and stability when the safety and security of a home have been established. Based on the Housing First model, a national, evidence-based initiative that has proven to be the most successful way to prevent homelessness, our programs prioritize personal choice in both housing selection and supportive service participation. Allowing a client to identify their needs and personal preferences highly increases the likelihood that they remain housed and enjoy an improved quality of life.
MHAOK connects tenants with a variety of programs and partnerships to provide services that meet each client’s unique needs. The goal is for the tenant to remain housed, achieve greater self-sufficiency and reintegrate into the fabric of our community.
We do this through a threefold mission:
- Provide access to housing for those experiencing homelessness.
- Prevent recurring homelessness by offering truly affordable housing to families and individuals with the greatest need.
- Help preserve the community’s affordable housing stock that is at risk of redevelopment, which could displace low-income households, further pricing them out of the rental market.
MHAOK's Housing Models
Mixed-Income, Mixed- Population Model
By focusing on small apartment complexes and single-family homes that target a wide range of income levels and needs, our housing units integrate tenants who require additional supportive services with those who do not. This approach creates more diverse and inclusive communities, with around 25-30% of our units dedicated to those experiencing mental illness, homelessness, and/or disabilities.
Public-Private Partnerships Model
Using both public and private dollars is a critical step in ending homelessness by increasing the number of affordable housing units in Oklahoma while fostering community buy-in. Often, private sector capital can supplement public funding, enabling the development of more complex housing projects. The same can be true in reverse. Public-private partnerships not only increase financial sustainability, but they often enhance the likelihood of programmatic success by combining a broad range of expertise from those who understand both commercial development and construction needs, as well as those who are experts in the needs of the communities we serve.
Permanent Supportive Housing
Our Metropolitan Apartment Program – Long-Term Support (MPA-LTS) features scattered-site apartments for individuals who can live independently in the community when provided supportive services. Our MAP staff members build lasting, trustworthy relationships with our tenants, walking alongside them as they connect to community services and continue their path to recovery.
MAP programs are designed to meet the unique needs of tenants, including family stability, substance misuse recovery, and homelessness prevention. Program objectives include establishing housing stability, increasing income and job skills, and achieving self-sufficiency.
Transitional Living
At Walker Hall Transitional Living Center, we offer 24-hour staffing for young adults ages 18-25 impacted by mental illness who have experienced homelessness. Walker Hall programs support the development of life skills necessary for tenants to successfully transition into permanent housing within two years.
Independent Living
We offer affordable, market-rate apartments to tenants living independently. While they may not require the supportive services of those engaged in other MHAOK programs, all tenants benefit from a landlord and apartment staff who understand our tenants’ unique needs.
Wrap-Around Services
Wraparound services are a key component of our housing support. Case Managers check in with tenants, provide ongoing needs assessments, and help tenants avoid more intensive interventions, thereby helping to ensure greater success. These services enable sustained stability while working toward increased income, skill development, and self-sufficiency.
Our Peer Support Specialists work closely with Case Managers to support program participants and offer valuable insights into maintaining a strong and successful recovery. Our most vulnerable tenants impacted by mental illness connect with a Program of Assertive Community Treatment (PACT) of a psychiatric unit, but within the comfort of their own home.
*Mental Health Association Oklahoma (MHAOK) is committed to compliance with all federal, state and local fair housing laws. MHAOK will not discriminate against any person because of race, color, religion, national origin, sex, familial status, disability or any other specific classes protected by applicable laws. MHAOK will allow any reasonable accommodation or reasonable modification based upon a disability-related need. The person requesting any reasonable modification may be responsible for the related expenses.
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